Naruto: Starting with the Granted Strongest Eye

Jiraiya supported the panting Third Hokage inwardly thinking: He can't last another ten minutes. Yet, this brat remains calm—and hasn't even used the dojutsu yet! When facing a Sharingan wielder, one must guard against genjutsu at all costs. Tsunade knew this, but Orochimaru knew even better—he had just fallen under its spell.

"Tō, you've dragged all of Konoha into this. My mission was to kill you—so why involve the entire village?" Itachi spoke quietly, a smirk gracing his lips.

Orochimaru glanced at Jiraiya and replied with a thin smile, "Because you've already destroyed Konoha. You left no chance for reprieve. We're the same—you and I care nothing for how the world sees us. We act on impulse. But you, you're stronger, so you act without restraint."

Itachi nodded. "True enough. My subordinates are far stronger than yours." He then indicated to the four Sound nin—now materializing on the battlefield—and quietly added: "Hold them in place."

At once, sands shifted across the battleground. Even Gaara, in a partial Tailed Beast cloak, paused, taken aback.

"Your last move nearly disrupted my jutsu! You treat us as mere laborers in your fights against stronger foes!" Nascent anger came from Sasori and Deidara above. Deidara, particularly vexed, recalled nearly being overwhelmed and losing his flight gear in the process. Surprisingly, many of Konoha's children had been gifted Hiraishin flies from Itachi—flight upgrades that could tip the scales.

"Block those two!" Orochimaru instructed the Sound ninjas. With that, he leapt toward Itachi.

Jiraiya and Hiruzen coordinated seamlessly to support him. Even Sasori and Kankuro's expressions contorted with urgency.

Multiple Sound nin summoned shikigami; sands swallowed them immediately, reducing them to puddles of blood. Deidara shouted at Gaara, "You're getting better at controlling Shukaku!"

He then launched himself skyward, flinging explosive clay constructs at Kakashi's unit. Meanwhile, the Death God Beast silently observed, its scythe in hand, ready.

At ground level, Sasuke and Kuu engaged Naruto and others, preventing them from reaching Itachi, demanding answers. Sasuke stood stunned by Itachi's revelation and remained motionless. Naruto stayed silent, biding his time.

Gaara sneered, his body swelling as Shukaku peaked—it was notably different from canon. A direct opening appeared in its forehead, and Gaara only breathed through that slit. The Sound nin visibly faltered; they had expected an Upper-Rank, not a Tailed Beast host.

Temari panicked and ran to block Gaara. He slapped her hard—but held back—then turned as Orochimaru dropped the Kusanagi sword from above. Itachi deflected it, and at that moment, Jiraiya transformed—part ape, with Hiruzen emerging on his back. With a dire grip, they pinned Itachi while the Death God Beast's hand clutched Itachi's body, seemingly going for his soul.

"A combined transformation?" Orochimaru asked coldly and moved forward. But Sasori and Mecha-Shino stopped him. When Deathdramon and Iron Garurumon readied to assist, two-headed snakes, plus Kakashi's hound and Anbu, blocked their path.

"Everyone, stop those summonings that are targeting the Third!" the Anbu captain barked.

Kakashi and the team dashed forward. Hidan smirked and performed his signature: "Earth Fusion Jutsu—activate!"

Sand around Kakashi dissolved into traps. Hidan, sealing the jutsu, called out to Deidara: "You ready?"

Deidara nodded, pulling new clay bombs. Kakashi thought, Damn, who'd expect Itachi to rescue that final cultist?

Lee and company appeared just then. Deidara released a humanoid clay bomb. Kakashi froze, and the surrounding sand coiled to trap them.

Just as Hidan activated his runes to kill Kakashi with one touch, Sasuke intervened—Chidori piercing his chest. Hidan didn't bleed or show pain. He chuckled: "Seems you're closer than I thought—trying to save Kakashi?"

At that moment, the sand underfoot roiled: "Sasuke, run! This sand absorbs chakra!" Kakashi shouted.

Sasuke leapt aside. Naruto appeared, forming seals with Sasuke and Chū. The trio then combined:

Ninja Art: Wind — Great Breakthrough

Ninja Art: Wind — Fierce Beast Gale Palm

Fire Style — Dragon Flame Technique

Their combined winds and flame—their Naruto-tier jutsu—seared the sand-based Hidan's location, striking at its core. The explosion rocked the field. Overhead, Deidara's clay humanoid bomb burst violently as well.

From afar, Deidara laughed triumphantly: "Konoha fools! This bomb can destroy a village beyond repair—can you stop it?"

Suddenly, Kakashi's Sharingan—now with three tomoe—spun madly into a fanned pattern. He locked onto the epicenter of Deidara's bomb. Space twisted, and the released air and flames spiraled and vanished into nothingness.

"Nani?!"

Deidara froze in shock. From the sand, Hidan laughed: "Stupid fool, now you know I'm the stronger one! Didn't expect your bomb to fizz out, did you?"

Deidara grimaced, staring at Kakashi's fan-shaped Sharingan. He thought: What—this is no Uchiha dojutsu. How did it evolve without the clan…?

He paused, mentally scrambling to formulate a new plan.

The battlefield still rages, and Konoha's shinobi stand the test—yet the true turning point lies ahead.